Page 13 of Special Agent Anastacia

Hanna arched back, her hands covering her lips. With her wide eyes filled with horror, she croaked, “Seriously. Bears? Oh, my God.”

Now it was Ana’s turn to laugh.

Chapter Ten

That night, Ana lay in bed reliving the earlier traumatic break-in at the cabin and made derisive snorts at her letting down her guard in front of the girl she was supposed to be protecting.

Hanna had kept her cool by bringing the situation to a swift end and that alone made Ana happy. The girl had good reflexes and used them to save another without thinking of her own safety. It showed a lot of courage and in today’s world, especially her world, who knew what she’d be facing in the future. Therefore, she’d need all the bravery possible, and some training might not come amiss either. Ana had wondered what they might be able to do to fill the many hours each day and now she knew.

She’d start Hanna’s physical training as soon as they had the grounds cleaned and the dry, fire hazard brush cleared. Unable to sleep, she slid out of her bed and went back downstairs to pour a small drink of whiskey, a remedy her father had shared with her many times on sleepless nights.

Thinking of her father, she slowly made her way to the suite at the far end of the cabin. Hesitating, she stood for moments before making up her mind. Knowing her father kept this area of the house locked when he was away – because of the small office off the bedroom where he often kept private police files – she retrieved the key from it’s hiding place behind a wall ornament. Ignoring the sadness that threatened to attack, she unlocked the door and turned on the lights. Shock kept her from advancing further into the room.

There were clear signs of a recent occupation. A rolled-up sleeping bag and pillow from off the bed lay in the corner of the room, nearest the window. And empty food containers were heaped into the garbage can. The small lamp that usually sat on the table near the bed was down on the floor where one could have some light but not have it visible from outside.

Being as how this side of the cabin faced the lake, it was the most sheltered from anyone’s view and the most obvious part of the home for a vagrant to sneak in to. She checked the French-styled doors to the sheltered patio her father and mother loved to use for their early morning coffee and found it had been unlocked. Since it didn’t look to be tampered with, likely the culprit used the key her parents kept hidden under the flower pot nearby.

Suspecting the truth, she still searched for the key, and sure as shit, it was missing. Quickly, turning off the lights, she scanned the area close by wondering if whoever had been using their cabin as a hideaway might be in the vicinity. Seeing no movement, she returned to the house and locked the door from the inside. Then she closed the heavy curtains and again lit the room.

Taking a plastic bag from the kitchen supply, she emptied the garbage can and rolled up the rest of the scraps left behind by the intruder. Doing a more detailed search, she found a backpackunder the bed. Pulling on plastic gloves, she rifled through it enough to know there wasn’t a firearm inside. Only what looked to be bundled clothing for a small female.

Intending to get the police to check for fingerprints, and not willing to make too much of a fuss about some poor girl finding refuge, nevertheless, she needed to be sure it wasn’t an escaped convict or someone similar. Around these remote parts, one could never be too careful.

Thankful that her mother had given the police department permission to clear away any government files from the office after her father’s death, she felt certain whoever had made use of their hospitality, wasn’t there to steal. If they had been, they would have broken through the door into the other part of the house to ransack it also. Instead, from the looks of the incident, whoever had taken advantage of their home being empty, probably used it more as a refuge or a means of protection from the weather and local animals.

Or maybe the police? Best to be sure.

Ana hated keeping secrets from Hanna, but she hesitated to say anything to the girl. Instead, the next day, she found a strong bolt in the garage and attached it to the inside of the bedroom door, knowing this would keep their unwanted visitor out.

Then she rifled through stacks of supplies in the shed and finally found the Amazon box filled with security cameras and fancy motion lights her mother had ordered, and her snickering father had refused to use. She’d heard him coaxing her mother, telling her numerous times, “Diana, darling, the place is safe. I hate having to repeat myself but we’re not in the city now. We don’t need to take these kinds of precautions. You know it’s what I love about the lake. We can live normal here.”

Thankful now for her mother’s insistence that they should be using surveillance equipment at the cabin too – especially because they left it vacant so often – she read the instructionsand carefully installed a few of the cameras to cover the area outside that back exit so in case their visitor came calling again, she might see the identity of the creeper for herself.

Satisfied that she’d taken care that specific problem, the next few days were focused on the girls clearing away the garbage and underbrush that the local fire officials had been warning folks about. She’d seen signs everywhere about the hazards and warnings that it was the owners’ responsibilities. Feeling even more guilty about unthinkingly building a fire on the day they arrived; she made up her mind not to take any further chances.

Once her and Hanna had done as much tidying as they could, she began coaxing her young cousin into taking her physical form more seriously. “Hey, lazybones, if you really meant what you said about wanting to join the army to help in Ukraine, then it’s a good idea to start looking after your own physical health now. I like to run most days, and tomorrow morning I’ll be heading out early. Want to come with me?”

“I’ll pass.” Trying to hide her sneer, Hanna kept her eyes down on her book. “I’m young and strong. Besides, you’ve been bullying me enough these last few days, working me like a dog outside.”

“Okay. Your call.” Ana started to walk away but stopped before leaving the room. “Just so you know, you’ll be fed accordingly. You exercise, you eat all the crap food you want. Otherwise, it’s rations for you.”

“You can’t be serious. That’s like child abuse.”

“Except, you’re not a child.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

Hanna’s expression was laughable, but Ana bit her lip to keep a straight face. “Not kidding. But your choice. I had planned on steaks, baked potatoes, spinach salad, and your favorite garlic toast for supper. Oh, right… followed by that frozen Strawberrycheesecake Mom sent along. Except… for you, it’s chicken noodle soup and five… no, four crackers. Sorry.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Wouldn’t I?”

Hanna stared at Ana’s straight expression and muttered Ukrainian swear words under her breath. But she came dressed for running the next morning.

Once they were moving in unison, Ana glanced over to see Hanna’s face and rather than a grumbly expression, the girl looked to be enjoying herself. She’d arranged two messy pigtails in her curly blonde hair to keep it back from her face and wore a similar outfit to Ana’s own Lulu Lemon suit of black fitted pants and a chest-hugging top that criss-crossed in the back and embellished her ample breasts. Both of the long-legged female’s strides matched well, and they fell into a nice rhythm.

Ana loved mornings… before the heat had time to suffocate the freshness from the air. In the distance, the lake shimmered with a silvery-like appearance, rippling as the breeze formed tiny waves. Even the birds seemed to be accepting of the two lone runners and went about their everyday business. A calm seeped into Ana, and she sent a silent thank you to her mom for insisting on this adventure.

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